Fuel-burning mechanism



July 3G, 1929. 'f1-l. l; MORRIS 1,7122505, 1 l FUEL BURMNG MECHANISM l ''origival Filed Nov. 27. 1922 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD I. MORRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, SSIGNOR TO THE YODER-MORRIS COM.-

PANY, -OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FUEL-nonnina MEGHANISM.

Application filed Noveniber 27, 1922, SeriaLNo. 603,577. Renewed October 11, 1926.

This invention relates toa fuel burning mechanism, more particularly a mechanism or apparatus adapted for burning fuel and other oils. The invention relates to 1mprovements upon the apparatus shown and described in my copending application Serlal No. 553,076, filed April 15th, 1922.

One object of the invention is to provide in a fuel burning apparatus, means for cleaning and maintaining clean thewall or walls constituting the conduit or passage through or along which the fuel flows to the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for cleaning and maintaining clean the wall or walls of a fuel burning apparatus along which the fuel flows while being vaporized, whereby carbon or deposits of other ingredients inthe fuel on the walls of the apparatus are prevented and caused to flow with the vaporized fuel and be expelled therewith through the nozzle. l

Another objectvof `the invention is to provide improved means for cleani'ngand maintaining clean certain wall or walls'of a fuel burning apparatus of relatively simple construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fuel burning apparatus having a rotating member,y improved' means for engaging the wall or walls of the burner along which the fuel flows while being vaporized, whereby deposits of carbon and other ingredients on such wall or walls will be prei vented andv the same expelled through the nozzle with the fuel.

v Other objects of the invention will be apparent'to .those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a lfragmentary view of a furnace and a side elevation of a fuel burning mechanism or apparatus embodying my invention, such mechanism being partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuel burning mechanism.`

Fig.4 3 is a section on the line 3 -e3 of Fig. 2, the left side of the vlew showlng the position of the elements when they are 1n a state of rest and the right side of the view showing the position o f the elements when the burner is in operatlon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing certain of the elements, detached.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a furnace of any suitable construction. The furnace is provided with a fire box 2, a door 2a and an ash pit 3 having an entrance 35L leading thereto. v

4 indicates as an entirety a fuel burning mechanismv preferably shaped and constructed to extend through the opening 3a into the furnace, so that the nozzle 5 (to be later referred to) will be substantially concentric to the fire box 2 and approximately in the plane of its bottom; although this arrangement is not essential but is shown merely for illustrative purposes.

6 indicates a container, holder or storage tank for containing a quantity of fuel oil to be burned. While I have shown the invention as adapted for-the burning of fuel oil,'it will of course be understood that it is not limited to such use, or that of other kind of fuel. The container 6 may be positioned in any desired place, or above or below the level of the nozzle 5, it being shown therebelow in the drawings and pumped from the container 6 through a feed pipe (S by -a pump 6b, connected in the pipe 6a in'a well known manner. The pump 6*. may be of -any desired construction. By preference the container 6 is counter sunk any in the ground below the surface on which the furnace 1 or fuel burning mechanism 4 is supported. y 7 indicates as an entirety a mechanism interposed in the feed pipe 6a between the pump 6b and the nozzle 5 and arranged to regulate the feed or flow of the fuel oil to the nozzle 5, whereby a substantially uniform and sullicient supply of oil will at all times be delivered to the burner for vaporization and ignition. The regulating mechanism 7 will form the subject matter of a separate application, for which reason further' description herein is omitted. 8 indicates a pipe leading from the regulating mechanism 7 back to the container 6 for conveying therefrom the sur lus oil.

9 indicates a support pre erably of hollow construction to form (l) a housing foi` Certain elements to be later referred to and (2) a conduit for delivering or supplying air or other gas for mixture with the fuel, preferably during its vaporization and after it has been vaporized, in the manner to be later set forth. The housing preferably comprises a ymain tubular section 10, which may be substantially circular in cross section, a base section 11 disposed at the outer end of the main section 10 and arranged to support a motor 12, and a supplemental tubular section 13 which is removably mounted on the inner end of the main section and which supports the nozzle 5 and yother elements, to be later referred to, for conditioning the fuel for ignition or burning from the nozzle. At its inner end, the upper wall 10'of the main housing section is cut away at 10"4x and the side walls 10c are 4connected by an end wall 10d, the upper edge of the end wallco-operating with the edges defining the cut-away 10b to form a seat 14 for the lower end of the supplemental section 13 (see Figure 2). A portion of the wall of the tubular section 10 is cut away to form an air inlet opening and such opening is closed to a greater or lessor degree by a valve 16 to control the admission of air or other gas for mixture with the fuel in the manner to be later set,.forth. The valve 16 mag7 be operated by ahandle 17.

s shown in Figures 1 and 2,4 the base 11 is provided with integral depending walls 22 and the inner end of the section 10 is provided with' a leg 23, which walls 22 and leg 23 serve to support the housing at its opposite ends in a substantially horizontal osition, as shown in Figure 1. The leg 23 1s preferably 4formed with two openings 24, 25, extending inwardly from its upper and inner sides or faces, respectively, and the inner ends of these openings merge into a chamber 24 formed in the leg, such openings and chamber serving as a conduit for the fuel as will be obvious from Fig. 2.

28 indicates a pipe which, at its lower end, fits into the opening 24. The pipe 28 extends upwardly through the housing section 13 and delivers the fuel from its upperI end, whereby the same ma be vaporized, as will be later described. s shown, the opening 24 in the leg 23 is so arranged that the supply pipe 28 may be arranged centrally of the section 13.

29 indicates as an entirety the burner wherein the fuel is vaporized and mixed with air or conditioned for burning and then discharged through the nozzle 5. The burner comprises a pair of concentrically arranged outer and inner members 29, 29, the Walls of which are spaced from each other to form around the inner member a passage 29c into which the fuel in liquid form is discharged for vaporization as it flows to the nozzle 5. The members 29a, 29",

preferably conform to the shape of the noz-v zle and are arranged /therewithin The members 29a, 29", extend beyond the nozzle 5 (that is, upwardly in the arrangement shown in the drawings) into orI Within the zone of the'flame burning from the nozzle,

whereby the Wall of the outer member may In the form of construction shown, the

burner is arranged vertically and for convenience in terminology I shall use the terms upper and lower as applicable to the arrangement illustrated, but it will be understood that these terms are not intended to limit the invention to the arrangement illustrated as the burner may be arranged in other positions, for example, horizontally, and operate in the manner to be described.

In the form of construction shown, 29d indicates an annular member surrounding the pipe 28 and co-operating with an annular plate 30 spaced from it to form a radially `extending outlet the outer end of which provides or forms the nozzle 5. The annular member 29d extends outwardly beyond the outer circumferential edge of the plate 30, as shown at 31 and such extended portion is curved upwardly toward the nozzle opening, so that the latter will direct the vaporized fuel or 'flame from the nozzle 5 upwardly when the burnery is arranged vertically, as shown in the drawings.

The annular member 29d is provided with a rabbetted seat 32 Afitting correspondingly shaped walls .on the upper end of the housing section 13, such arrangement insuring concentricity of the burner member 29",'

which is supported by the annular member 29d in the manner to be later set forth. 36 indicates a trough -isurrounding the noi/.zle 5 and arranged to receive the fuel flowing from the nozzle before it is ignited. The outer side wall of the trough is provided with an y inclined collecting wall 36a. The inner side Wall of the trough 36 is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the annular member 29d, being preferably formed integrally therewith. As the trough receives and holds a quantity ofl the fuel after it is admitted to the burner 29, l utilize this fuel to ignite .the nozzle, to start the burner, for

which purpose the trough 36 surrounds and is arranged in close proximity to the nozzle 5. 37v indicates a suitable material, such as asbestosarranged inthe trough 36. This material absorbs the fuel and serves as a sort of Wick to spread the flame entirely around the trough resulting upon the ignition `of the fuel collected therein.` 38 indieatesa pilot device for igniting the fuel in pipe 38 may be controlled by a valve 39.

the trough 36. The pilot device preferably oil supplied to it to be discharged centrifucomprises a Bunsen burner or other means gally over its upper edge in sprayed form or arrangedl in the trough 36 and connected condition into the passage 29s and against by a pipe 38a with a suitable source of gas the inner surface 44a ofthe wall 44. By supply. The flow of the gas through the such operation the oil` is broken up so that The upper end of the outer member 29L1 the passage 29c by the heat conducted is preferably closed by an end wall or plate through orradiating from the Wall 44. In 43. The plate 43 is preferably formed inositioning the spraying device 42, it is tegrally with the outer end of the side wll/gcrewed down into engagement with the up- 44 of the member 29a and the inner end of per end of the inner burner member 29h, the side wall 44 is preferably formed intethus serving as a clamping device or nut to grally with the inner circumferential edge connect the latter to the shaft 46 and against of the plate 30. As the plate 30 is relatively the shoulder 46a. The upper portion of the narrow, it will be seen that the side wall 44 wall 42a is enlarged to form a seat for an 0f the member 29a will be arranged in close annular anti-friction bearing 48, the inner proximity to the flame burning from thev race of which surrounds the pipe 28. The nozzle 5 and be heated thereby suiiiciently bearing 48 is held in position on the pipe 28 it may quickly vaporize asit flows through Y to insure vaporization of the fuel discharged or against a shoulder 28b by a nut 49. As

into the passage 29C, as will later be dewill be understood from Figs. 2 and 4, the scribed. To insure absorption of the heat bearing 48 operates through the spraying by and conduct-ion thereof through the side device 42 to rotatably support the upper end wall 44 of the burner member 29, the latter of the shaft 46 on the pipe 28. 50 indicates.

is provided with a plurality of spaced fins a plurality of blades arranged radially and or ribs preferably extending radially spaced around the outer face or wall of the therefroln. The wall 43 is providedl with a inner burner member 29b and preferably exhollow boss 43a arranged axially of the tending from end to end thereof. The

burner member 29a. The inner wall of the blades extend across the space constituting y boss 43a serves as a seat for the upper ends.x the passage 29e, their free edges being paralof the supply pipe 28 and cooperates with lel to and terminating closely adjacent to the wall of the opening 24 to support the the surface 44a. At their lower ends the pipe 28 in position, whereby it may serve blades 50 are extended, as shown at 51, to

an axle for a tubular shaft 46 to be later occupy, vertically, the space between the anreferred to. nular member 29c1 and plate 30,v their lower lhen the supply pipe 28 is arranged veI- free ends being preferably connected by an tically, and the other elements are associated annular ring 52. The inner member 29b is therewith, asshown in the drawings, the open from end to end to permit air or gas burner member 29a may be termed an into flow into the upper end of the passage 29c verted cup member, but the use of such term and to the blade sections 5l for mixture with is not for the purpose of limiting nor inthe vaporized fuel. The different sections tended to limit the scope of the invention, of the blades operate as follows: the blade for reasons already set forth.

At or adjacent its upper end, the iIiIieI ered by the spraying device 42 to (a) throw lellbel 29h S PlOVdGd With SPdGIS 40 Ilit, by centrifugal action, against the inner tcgrally connected at' their inner ends With surface of the wall 44, such operation being a sleeve or hub 41 fitting a reduced portion supplemental t0 the spraying action of the of the sleeve shaft 46. The sleeve or -hub 41 Spraying device 42; (b) by the same action,

is disposed in engagement with a shoulder maintain it against such surface through- 46 formed by the reduced portion of the out the length of the passage 29 as the fuel shaft, whereby theinner member 29" is sup- Hows therethrough to insure vaporization of ported in eo-operative relation to the outer al1 the fuel before it 'reaches the nozzle 5; member 29a. The lower end of the shaft 46 and (e) cause mixing of the air conducted engages the inner race of an annular bearto the passage 29c with the vaporized fuel as ing 47, to which reference will later be made. it becomes vaporized in the passage 29E. The

42 indicates a device arrangednear the blade sections 51 serve to (a) mix the vaporouter end of the supply pipe 28, and arized fuel and the air delivered from the pasranged to receive the fuel or oil delivered sage 29c and air drawn up through the housthereby through openings or ports 28a ing section 18, whereby the fuel is completeformed therein. The device 42 preferably ly conditioned for ignition or burning and comprises a cup shaped member. The bot- (b) force the conditioned fuel through or tom of the device is provided with an upfrom the nozzle 5 under pressure. In pracstanding tubular wall 42a which is contical use of my fuel burning mechanism, l nected, preferably by screw threads with the have found that the construction and arupper or free end of the shaft 46, whereby rangement is such that in `operation the ele the latter rotates the device to cause the ments serve`within the burner or at a point 1 sections 50 operate on the liquid fueldelivwithin the nozzle opening to uniformly and continuously mix the vaporized fuel and air in proper proportions to secure or effect complete combustion of the fuel at or beyond the nozzle opening.

54 indicates as an entirety means for preventing preignition of the lburning fuel in the nozzle or between the inner and outer members andy for maintaining the ignition of the fuel at or beyond a predetermined point, viz, the nozzle opening. The means 54 preferably comprise an annular wall 54a which extends across the nozzle 5 throughout its circumference and is formed with a plurality of slits 54" through which the conditioned fuel passes. Ignition takes place on the outer surface of the wall 54", the slit-s being of a 'size to prevent back-fire into the space behind the wall 54a, and causing preignition therein. The slits 54" are preferably arranged to extend radially of the axis ofthe burner members 29a, 29". This arrangement effects a spreading of the flame over a relatively wide area and eliminates noise incident to the discharge ofthe fuel under pressure. The wall 54 is preferably convexed and may be formed inte rally around its inner edge with the outer e ge of the plate 30. The outer edge of the wall 54a preferably engages the outer edge of the wall 31, being secured theretoby screws extending through openings formed in integral lugs (not shown) provided on the walls 54, 31.

. The wall 54" being connected to the plate 30,

serves to support it and throughit to support the outer burner member 29a in posi.

When such power transmitting element 55.

is a bevel gear, it co-acts with a bevel gear fixed to the outer end of a driving shaft 55". The shaft 55" preferably extends longitudinally of the housing section 10 through an opening formed in the end wall 10", where itis connected at 55 with the larmature shaft of the motor 1.2.

56 indicates a casing arraiged within the housing sections 10 and 13 and surrounding the gears 55, 55", and bearing 47. The casing 56 preferably comprises-a bottom member 57 and a cover member 58, the former being formed with an opening through which the pipe 28 extends and provided with a collar 47EL to form a seat for the bearing 47, and the latter being provided with a tubular extension through which the pipe 28 and shaft 46 extend. The side wall of the member 57 is 4formed with an opening 57a, through which the driving shaft 55" ex= tends. 'Ihe wall surrounding the opening 57a is thickened and formed with an annular recess 60, which receives an antifriction hearing 61 in which the driving ,shaft 55" is supported. The bearing 61 is preferably arranged to take thrusts end-wise of the shaft 55b resulting from the Acoaction between the bevel gears 55, 55a. The bearing 61 is oiled from the oil which accumulates in and Hows through the casing 56. Oil is supplied to the casing 56 from the surplus oil flowing from the regulating mechanism 7, being conducted thereto by a conduit 56a and openings 56b formed in the walls of the casings 9 and 56 (see Fig. 2). The oil aecumulates in the casing 56 and finally escapes through the bearing 61 (or a port formed in the wall of the casing 56) to the housing member 10 from which it flows through the pipe 8 to the container 6.

62 indicates as an entirety means for scraping from the surface 44" of the wall 44 deposits of carbon and other ingredients, and maintaining such surface free of such deposits, as the oil is sprayed against and flows along or relative to this surface to the nozzle 5 and while being vaporized by the heat conducted through the wall 44 resulting from the flame burning from the nozzle 5. It will be understood that if these deposits accumulate on the wall 44, they will not only materially affect the radiation of heat from the wall 44 to effect vaporization of the oil, sprayed thereon, but due to engagement of the blades 50 with these deposits, they would prevent the free rotation ofthe inner member 29", thereby causing the motor 12 to become heated and to consume additional current, as well as a humming of the gears 55, 55a. By means of my invention, I am able to continuously, whilethe burner is in operatiomscrape from the surface 44" any deposits of this sort ,which may accumulate thereon, thereby maintaining such surface clean and expelling with the vaporized fuel through the nozzle the particles of carbon so that they can be burned or consumed while passing through the flame. The scraping means 62 comprise one or more scraping members each attached to one of the blades 5() of the inner burner member 29". In the preferred form of construction I provide two vscraping members 62, arranged diametrically opposite each other soA that one member will eounterbalance the other member in the ro tation of the inner burner member. Each scraping member preferably consists of a strip-of metal movably supported on one of t-he blades 50, whereby it may be moved radially by centrifugal force when the inner burner member is rotating into engagement with the surface 44, and thus scrape off all deposits of carbon and other ingredients therefrom-this operation being illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 3. In order to permit of the radial movement of each scraping member or strip 62, it is formed with a pair of elongated slots 63 through which project pins 64 carried by the adjacent blade 50. The pins 64 preferably comprise screws fixed in screw threaded open'- ings 65 formed in the blade 50, the heads of the screws serving to hold the scraping member thereon. The scraping members 62 are preferably arranged on that side of the blades 50 toward which they rotate. By movably supporting the scraping members 62 on the blades 50, provision is made for their movement inwardly, so that (l) when the feed of the oil is cut olf and the flame at the nozzle 5 goes out and the outer burner member cools, it will not, 'due to the contraction of its Walls resulting from such cooling, engage the cleaning or scraping strips 62 and through them lock the inner burner member against rotation, which would be the case if the scraping members 62 were rigidly fixed to the blades 50, and (2) their free edges can accommodate themselves to the thickness of the deposits of carbon on the surface 44 at the time the burner is set in operation, whereby in start- 'ing the inner burner member 291 to rotate the scraping members will not project radially too close to the surface 44a and thus Vthrow an undue load on the motor, but will allow the scraping members to gradually scrape off the accumulated carbon deposits until the latter has beenentirely scraped f from the Asurface 44a and expelled through the nozzle 5.

No claim is made herein to the fuel burner or elements thereof, since the same form l combination of a burner for vaporized fuel comprising a nozzle and a passage for the fuel leading thereto, said passage being formed by spaced walls, one of said walls being movable and the other wall being arranged to be heated by the flame burning from said nozzle, means tending to mtaintain the fuel against said heated wall as it flows through said passage, and separate means carried by the movable wall for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from said heatedwall.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the

heated member as it flows through said passage, and separate means for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner surface of said heated mem ber.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a burner comprising a nozzle and inner and outer members spaced to form between them a fuel passageleading to said nozzle, said outer member being arranged to be heated by the flame burning from said nozzle, means for rotating said inner member, and means movably support ed by said inner member and movable radially by centrifugal force for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner wall of said outer member.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a burner comprising anozzle and .inner and outer members spaced to form between them a fuel passage leading lto said nozzle, said outer member being arranged to be heated by the flame burning from said nozzle7 means for rotating said inner member, and a plurality of devices movably supported by said innenmember and movable radially by centrifugal force for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner Wall of said outer member.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a burner comprising a nozzle and inner and outer members spaced to form between them a fuel passage leading to said nozzle, radially disposed blades carried by said inner member, means for rotating said inner member, and a strip movably supported by and extending longitudinally of one of said blades and arranged toI be moved radially by centrifugal force for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner surface of said outer member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the

7. In apparatus of the class described, the

' combination of a burner comprising a nozzle and inner and outer members spaced to form between them a fuel passage leading to said nozzle, radially disposed blades carried by said inner member, means for rotating said inner member, and a pair of strips movably supported by and extending longitudinally of a pair of diametrically arranged blades and arranged to be moved radially by centrifugal force for scraping deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner surface of said outer member.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a burner for vaporized fuel comprising a nozzle and a passage for the fuel leading thereto, said passage being formed by spaced Walls, one of said Walls being movable and the other Wall being arranged to be heated by the flame burning from said nozzle, and a member mounted on said movable Wall to move radially for scrap? between them a fuel passage connected at one end to said nozzle, one of said members being arranged to be heated by the flame burning from said nozzle, means for conveyf ing fuel through the other member to the opposite end kof said fuel passage, and a member extending substantially from end to end of the fuel passage and mounted on the other member to move radially and operating during operation of the burner to scrape deposits of carbon and other ingredients from the inner surface of said heated member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HOWARD I. MORRIS. 

